Letters from our Readers: Lyme disease story sends wrong message

Your Sept. 18 story “Lyme disease doc ‘scariest’ film of year” sends a wrong message. Contrary to the article’s claims, the Infectious Diseases Society of America holds no “corrupt control” over Lyme disease or its treatment.

Rather, the professional society, which represents more than 8,600 physicians and scientists who specialize in infectious diseases, supports a treatment protocol for Lyme disease that is based on sound science and has the best interest of patients in mind.

The long-term antibiotic treatment supported in the documentary is neither effective nor supported by medical evidence. In fact, it is proven to be dangerous for patients.

May I assume that just as with Muni drivers who kill pedestrians, no action has been taken against the driver of the fire truck that slammed into the building on Commercial Street?

Carl Hoffman, San Francisco

Wisdom of the right

It seems that we have a small group of right-wing writers who continually espouse their opinions on the rest of us. They believe their views are so important that we must agree with them. These writers think that they are the true believers and must convert the rest of us. Their hatred of Democrats and liberals is the main constant. They do love Fox News and the rest of the right-wing propaganda machine.

Raymond DeMattei, San Carlos

Give us transparencyCandidate Obama promised us the most “transparent” administration ever. If this is so, why won’t he join with Republican senators to demand that any health care overhaul bill must be read first by all Congress members and then published on the Internet for 72 hours before any vote? For the sake of “transparency,” don’t the American people deserve that?

Scott Abramson, San Mateo

Turn on the water!

Why does it take Jim DeMint — a Republican senator from South Carolina — to try to get the water turned back on to the California Central Valley when both Boxer and Feinstein voted against it?

What’s so complicated about California’s two Democrat senators putting the needs of fish ahead of the needs of their constituents? The unemployed farmworkers in the Central Valley need our help right now.

DeMint said, “This amendment doesn’t cost a single penny. We can turn the water on so thousands of Central Valley farmers can get back to work without creating another federal program or bailing out another industry.” Why don’t our own senators think like this?